Parking restrictions to be introduced outside hospital (From Gazette Series)

Parking restrictions to be introduced outside Frenchay Hospital

12:30pm Thursday 22nd October 2009 in Yate and Sodbury news By Alexandra Womack

MORE parking restrictions look set to be introduced outside Frenchay Hospital to help paramedics get patients to A&E.

Keep Clear markings have already been installed near one entrance to the hospital after motorists kept blocking Malmains Drive, reducing it to a single carriageway.

The first restrictions were introduced in October last year but since then visitors to the hospital have started parking in other areas around the site causing more obstruction for ambulances.

South Gloucestershire Council has now lined up £30,000 to spend on sorting out the parking problems.

In a consultation report, a spokesman said visitors had increasingly started using Frenchay Park Road.

"Sporadic parking is ongoing here, particularly in the afternoons during hospital visiting times," he said. "This also reduces the carriageway to a single lane, causes damage to the highway verge and, more importantly, has the potential to result in delays to emergency vehicles.

"Advisory markings cannot be enforced by the council’s team of parking attendants and should be used sparingly – excessive use of these markings can lead to abuse over time.

"The council has already received reports of abuse and consequently no markings have been installed along Frenchay Park Road."

Instead, the council has launched a review of parking in the whole of Frenchay and is looking to introduce permanent no parking zones, which will be enforceable by parking attendants.

Areas being considered include Beckspool Road, Bristol Road, Malmains Drive and parts of Old Gloucester Road and Filton Road.

Simon Wood, director of facilities at North Bristol NHS Trust which runs the hospital, said: "North Bristol NHS Trust welcomes work by South Gloucestershire Council to find a permanent solution to parking problems around the hospital.

"Steps taken by the council at the end of last year mean that obstructive parking along approach roads to the hospital has eased, reducing disruption and damage to neighbouring properties.

"We will continue to work closely with the South Gloucestershire Council and Winterbourne Parish Council on this matter."

The trust said it had not increased parking charges for visitors and patients for almost two years. Patients and visitors with disabilities are offered free parking in designated parking spaces and reduced rates are available to regular and long-term patients and visitors.

Current charges are £2 for up to three hours, £4 for three to five hours, £6 for an all day ticket and £12 to park all week.